Quiz Your Own Knowledge of World Cup Qualification Surprises and Thrills

How much are you familiar with the biggest shocking moments from FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns? Try this test to discover the number of facts you remember.

FIFA World Cup Qualification Challenge

1. 1. In 1973, Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski delivered a number of stops at Wembley Stadium to stop the home team a berth at the 1974 edition FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been called 'a gloved clown' by which English coach?

   • Sir Alf Ramsey
   • Coach Brian Clough
   • Manager Don Revie
   • Ron Greenwood manager
   Reveal Result

2. 2. The French team's greatest World Cup disappointment occurred in 1993, when they failed to make it after losing their last two matches at home to Israel and ...

   • Team Bulgaria
   • Romanian team
   • Swedish team
   • Luxembourg
   Display Answer

3. 3. Who was Gerard Houllier hold at fault for the French team's loss, calling him 'the assassin' of their FIFA World Cup chances?

   • Cantona
   • David Ginola the player
   • Goalkeeper Bernard Lama
   • Didier Deschamps player
   Reveal Solution

4. 4. In 2006, what two African teams achieved their only World Cup participations to now after beating the Senegalese team and the Nigerian side in qualifying?

   • Togo and Angola
   • Botswana with Zambia
   • Libya with Tanzania
   • Ethiopia and Mali
   Show Answer

5. Question 5. Italy, the four-time World Cup winners, have not managed to qualify for the World Cup since 2014. Which team beat them from the qualifying playoffs in 2022?

   • The Swedish team
   • Switzerland
   • Portugal
   • Macedonia
   Show Result

6. Question 6. What nation qualified ahead of the Mexican team for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, only to lose their first game 10-1?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • The Honduran team
   Show Solution

7. 7. The 1982 edition World Cup had a few unexpected participants. What team earned their only World Cup participation to this day with an late equalizer against the New Zealand team?

   • Haiti
   • Iraq
   • The Kuwaiti team
   • The UAE team
   Reveal Solution

8. Question 8. You'll probably recall that a Henry's hand ball aided the French team qualify at the Ireland's expense in 2009. But which player was Henry pass to to score?

   • Anelka
   • Benzema
   • Player Gallas
   • Player Govou
   Display Solution

9. 9. The only men's World Cup the Argentine team have attempted and failed to make it for was in 1970. What team secured their berth?

   • The Brazilian team
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
   Reveal Answer

10. 10. Roman Torres' 88th minute winner against Costa Rica earned a thrilling FIFA World Cup 2018 berth for what side?

    • Honduras
    • The Mexican team
    • The Panamanian team
    • Uruguay
    Display Solution

11. Question 11. What role was Peter Hore play in the Australian team's away-goals loss to Iran in a play-off for the 1998 FIFA World Cup?

    • Famous as a serial prankster, Hore went onto the pitch and cut a goal net with the Socceroos leading 3-1 on aggregate. The stop in play allowed the Iranian team to get back into the match and get two late goals.
    • Socceroos defender Hore scored own goal that sent the Iranian team into the finals at the Socceroos' expense.
    • As Australia foreign minister, Hore prevented the squad from travelling to Tehran, leading to a 3-0 defeat they couldn't reverse in Melbourne.
    • Peter Hore was a former Australian assistant who joined Iran's coaching staff before the play-off matches.
    Reveal Solution

12. Question 12. Australia at last ended their lengthy wait for a 2nd World Cup showing by defeating which nation on penalties in 2005?

    • Iran
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
    Reveal Result

13. 13. The Dutch team whose 'Total Football' impressed the football world in 1974 nearly did not make it, saved by a disputed offside call against ...

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • The Yugoslav team
    Reveal Result

14. 14. Back in 2009, which player got a final minute winner for the Argentine team against Peru in heavy rain to save their qualification campaign?

    • Higuaín
    • Player Mascherano
    • Messi
    • Martín Palermo
    Show Solution

15. Question 15. In the famous 'Gualtieri match' in 1993, how many goals was England require to defeat San Marino by to have a chance of making it for the FIFA World Cup?

    • Three
    • 5
    • 7
    • Ten
    Reveal Solution

Test your recall of these memorable FIFA World Cup qualification events and discover how many you got right.